Testing device for filamentary material



June 14, 1949. TAYLOR ETAL TESTING DEVICE FOR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Oct. 10, 194

3 Sheets-$heet 'l INVENTORS. DAVlD TAYL OR.

AT TO RN E VS.

BY ERNEST RKWARD lune 1949- D. TAYLOR ETAL TESTING DEVICE FOR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL 3 Sheens-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1944 w 9 mm INVENTORS. DAVID TAYLOR. BY ERNEST WAR D.

K 1 f W4 ATTKVFQNEYS.

June 14, 1949.

D. TAYLOR ET AL TESTING DEVICE FOR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 001:. 10, 1944 INVENTORS.

M B R A E M m T T v s T m v A R D E g Patented June 14,- 1949 'rnsrmo mavrcs FOR. FILAMENTARY.

MATERIAL Y David Taylor, Princeton, W. Va., and Ernest Robert Ward, Narrows, Va., assignors to Gelanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application October 10, 1944, Serial No. 557,954

This invention relates'to a testing device, and relates more particularly to a device for testing filaments.

An object of this invention is the provision of a novel device for measuring the elongation of filaments and for determining the tenacity thereof.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details of construction and combinations of parts, will appear from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the testing device of the invention partly in section to show certain details and with certain details omitted in the interest of clarity,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the posts, also partly in section,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of a post of the novel testing device, parts of the post being broken away to show certain details of construction more clearly,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the other post of the testing device, parts of this post also being broken away to show certain details of construction,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the elements arranged between and connecting the two posts of the testing device,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailview of the top of the tripping mechanism, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of the pointer supporting arrangement.

12 Claims. (CI. 73-95) member and pointer I4 from the pivot l2 and maintaining the same in inoperative position when the device is not in use in a testing operation. The lifting means comprises an eccentric 22 on a shaft 23 journaled at one end in a disc 24 and having at its other end an end knob 25 by which said eccentric is rotated manually. The rotation of said knob 25 causes eccentric 22 to raise a plug 26 mounted for movement within the cylindrical post 9. The plug 26 is provided with an opening 21 through which eccentric 22 extends and has at its upper end a cut-away 'portion 28 forming two projections 29 in which are formed slots 3| adapted to receive, said pointer and to move the same off pivot l2. The pointer is held in this position by means of a spring operated pin 32 until it is desired to use the same, thereupon the knob 2| is again rotated and. through eccentric 22, effects the lowering of the plug 26, pulling the slots 3| from under pointer l4, permitting the bearing member |3 to rest on pivot l2 in operative position.

In the upper portion of cylindrical post 9 is mounted a threaded rod 33 on which is fixed a knob 34 provided with a handle 35 for rotating said knob and thereby threaded rod 33. Carried on said threaded rod 33 for movement relative thereto is a cylindrical plug 36 having a threaded hole 31 through which threaded rod 33 passes.

0 The plug 36 supports a bracket, generally indi- Like reference numerals indicate like partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of our novel testing device, the reference numeral 8 indicates a base support, preferably of wood, on which are mounted two posts generally indicated by the reference numerals 9 and M, respectively, which posts are cylindrical in form. In post 9 is fixed a knife-edge pivot l2 on which is adapted to be pivotally supported a bearing member |3 carrying therein a balanced pointer'l4. The bearing member I3 is provided with an opening l5 having an inverted V-shape portion l3 adapted to rest on the knife-edge pivot l2. The pointed end of pointer |4 cooperates with an indicator plate |'I carried by a bracket I3 suitably attached to post 9. The pointed end of the pointer I4 is provided with a. clamp IS. The opposite end of the pointer is threaded at 20 and carries knurled nut counterweights 2| adapted to move along the length of said threaded portion 20 for balancing the pointer.

Means are provided for lifting the bearing 55 downward movement of a cylindrical tube 56 cated by reference numeral 38, extending through a vertical slot 39 in the post 9. The bracket 38 has fixed thereto a scale 4| divided into suitable units, such as millimeters or inches. The bracket is provided with extensions 42 in which is rotatably mounted a threaded rod 43, the upper end of which has fixed thereto a gear 44. The threaded rod 43 has mounted thereon for movement relative thereto, a carriage 45 carrying a clamp 46.

Suitably attached to post 48 in which is journaled a rod 49. The upper portion of said rod 49 may be substantially square or rectangular in cross-section and slidably carries a gear 5| for cooperation with the gear 44. To the lower end of said rod 49 is fixed a gear 52 for cooperation with a gear 53 mounted on a shaft 54 journaled in base 8. The upper portion of shaft 54 extends through the top surface of base 8 and has attached thereto a cup-shaped hand grip 55 by which the rotation of gear 53 is manually effected.

The lower portion of cylindrical post II is filled with oil, which cushions and regulates the 9 are brackets 41 and and block 51 in which it is carried in the interior of said cylindrical Dost II. The tube 56 near its lower end has threaded thereon a piston II, and extending through said tube 56 is a threaded rod 59 held in position by screw threaded bearing members 6i. When the tube 56 is released by braking means 62, hereinafter more fully described, the weight of the tube 56, block 51, piston 58, and rod 59 creates a pressure on the oil in the post II causing the oil to flow around a conical plug 63 fixed to the end of rod 56 into the cylindrical tube 56 and out of this tube into post H through openings 64 and 65. The larger the opening at the bottom of cylindrical tube 56, the faster the oil can escape and, therefore, the more rapid the descent of tube 56. The size of the opening at the bottom of the tube 56 may be adjusted by means of said conical plug 63 which is adapted to be raised or lowered within the opening at the bottom of tube 56 by rotating a knurled knob 66 fixed to the upper end of rod 58.

The braking means comprises brake bands 61 and 68 normally held together by means of a spring 69 carried on a pin II extending through the brake bands. The braking means may be released by means of a rod I2 having a wedgeshape tip 13 which may be driven between brake bands 61 and '68 to spread them apart by springloaded lever 14 to which rod 12 is suitably attached as by means of a nut or nuts I5. The lever I4 is plvotally mounted on stub shaft It carried by a bracket 11 fixed in any suitable manner, as :by pins or screws 18, to the base 8. Means are provided for raising rods 12 to release the braking means and to hold the same in a brake releasing position, said'means comprising a button 19 which when pressed downward causes lever I4 to move counterclockwise about its pivot thus raising the opposite end of the lever and rod I2, the lever being caught in notch 86 of a lever 8|. The lever 8! is Divotally mounted in a bracket 62 which may be fixed to base 8. Also attached to lever BI is a two-piece connecting rod 82 joined together .by an adjusting turn-buckle 88. The connecting rod is attached to a bellcrank lever 84 normally held in raised position by means of a spring 85, one end of which is attached to the bell-crank lever 64 and the other to base 8.

Ann 86 of bell-crank lever 64 is adapted to cooperate with a tripping mechanism, generally indicated by reference numeral 81, comprising a cylindrical tube 88 fixed by means of nuts 8! to base 8. Slidably mounted in tube 68 is a rod 9| the lower end of which is adapted to rest on arm 86 of bell-crank lever 84 and the upper end of which carries a bracket 52 fixed thereto. The bracket 92 is provided with notches 93 and Journaled in said notches is a pin 94 carrying tripping member 95 for cooperating with end 20 of pointer l4. A dog 96 integral with the tripping member cooperates with a shouldered reduced portion 91 of rod ill to hold the latter in a predetermined position.

A chain 98 of any suitable one end to a Iill in post I I I02, to block metal is attached at plate 99 extending through a slot and fixed, as by means of screws 51. The other end of the chain 98 is attached to a bale I03 carried by pointer I4. The base 8 may be provided with leveling screws I04 and with a level (not shown);

Before beginning a test of a filament, button 19 is pressed downward thus rotating lever 14' about its pivot and raising rod wedge-shaped top end 13 12 to drive the between the brake indicator plate I1. If

bands 81 and 68 releasing piston rod 49. The chain I05, which is attached to block 5'! and is carried over an idler pulley I06 pivotally mounted at the top of post II, is pulled down until the zero on scale I 01 on tube 58 lines up with the zero on the vernier I08 attached to post I I in slot I08 formed in said post. The construction is such that the plate 99 will strike the top of slot IIlI in post II when the zeros on the scales I01 and I08 line up. The piston 58 and tube 56 are then looked in this zero position by pushing up member 95 to trip the braking mechanism and cause braking means 52 to function, i. e. to hold tube 56 against movement in post I I.

The component elements in post 9 are now arranged to receive the specimen filament. The length of the specimen will determine the location of cylindrical plug 36 along the threaded rod 33. Carriage 45 carrying clam 46 is lowered to the zero point on scale 4| :by turning hand grip 55 counterclockwise. This turning Of hand grip 55 effects the rotation of gear 53, gear 52, rod 48, gear 5|, gear 44 and threaded rod 43 on which said carriage 45 is mounted. Knob 34 is then rotated by means of handle 35 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. thus rotating the threaded rod 31' to raise or lower the plug 36 to increase or decrease the distance between clamp 46 and clamp IQ for accommodating the length of the specimen. With the scale on post 9 and the scale on post I I both at their zero points, the knob 25 is rotated and through eccentric 22 lowers the plug 2-6 pulling the slots in its top end from under pointer I4 allowing the bearing member l3 of the pointer I4 to come to rest on lmifeedge-pivot I2. The pointer I4 is then balanced by means of knurled nut weights 2| until the pointed end is centered on the hair line III on indicator plate IT. The device is now balanced and knob 25 is rotated to cause the eccentric 22 to move plug 26 upwardly thus cradling the pointer in slots 3i and lifting the bearing member I3 from the knife-edge pivot-I2 to prevent injury to the latter and to effect the steadying of the clamps while inserting the specimen therein. The bearing members should be removed from the knife-edge pivot at all times except when being balanced or when the test is actual- 1y being conducted.

The filament specimen is then clamped in laws l9 and 46 and to facilitate this filament clamping operation there may be provided a background board I I 2 of black plastic material which may be held in position by means of a channeled strip H3 supported from the post 9 by a bracket 4. After the filament clamping operation, the knob 25 and eccentric 22 are turned, thus lowering the plug 26 and permitting the bearing member I3 of the pointer I4 to come to rest on knifeedge pivot I2. The pointed end of pointer I4 should be exactly centered on hair line III of the the pointed end is oil center, knob 34 should be turned to move plug 36 to take up any slack in the specimen filament, cenon the hair line, and to insure the absence of any'initial loading on the specimen. The device is now ready to test the filament.

The application of releasing the braking means 62 and permitting the tube 56 and piston 58, to-

gether with the other elements attached to tube 56, to move down inside the post I I. The rate of this downward movement and, therefore, the rate of the application or load is governed by the 5 position of conical plug it which may be ad- Justed by turning knob 88 at the upper end of rod 59 attached to said conical plug. The weight of the tube 55 and the elements attached thereto applies a. pressure on the oil in post H and the oil tends to flow around the conical plug into tube 56 and out of the holes 54 and 55, back into post H. The larger the opening at the bottom of tube 55, the faster the oil can escape and, therefore, the faster will be the descent of the tube 56 together with the elements attached thereto. The adjustment of this load application speed means should be predetermined and set before the test is begun. I

As the tube 56 and the elements connected thereto continue to move down the post II, the chain plate 99 moves down, changing its relative position with respect to the bale Hi3 mounted on pointer II and to which the other end of the chain 98 is attached. The shape of the chain catenary is changing continually and a larger portion of the weight thereof is shifted to the bale attached to the pointer, and thereby to the specimen. The hand grip 55 is continually turned by the operative, thus turning gear 53, gear 52, rod 49, gear 5|, gear 44 and threaded rod 43 causing carriage 45 to be raised to keep the specimen filament taut and supporting the full weight of the chain catenary. The pointed end of pointer H must be kept centered on the hair line HI by the rotation of hand grip 55 to insure the above conditions of load. If the pointer is kept on the hair line by the operative, the elongation of the filament at any time is indicated by the location of carriage 45 along scale 4 I. When the specimen filament breaks, the total elongation in the gauge length of the specimen filament can be read directly from scale ll where the bottom of carriage 45 lines up therewith. In place of scale 4|, the hand grip 55 may be graduated along its edge 5 and the elongation read directly from the graduatlons along said edge.

When the specimen filament breaks, the automatic stop assembly functions. The pointer I4 is caused to rotate clockwise causing the knurled nuts to strike tripping member 95, pulling the dog 96 from the shouldered portion 91 of rod 9! allowing the rod to fall freely. Rod 9| strikes arm 85 of bell-crank lever on, pushing it down in counterclockwise rotation about the pivot against the action of spring 85. The rotation of bell-crank lever 84 causes connecting rod 82 to rotate lever 89 in a counterclockwise direction pulling the notch away from lever it which lever snaps downwardly in a clockwise direction due to the action of spring I I6 mounted on stub shaft 16.

This causes the wedge-shape end 73 of rod 12 to be pulled from between brake bands 61 and 88 which then snap tight on tube 55, stopping the further downward motion of said tube 56 and the elements attached thereto. The load required to break the specimen filament is proportional with the movement of the tube 56 and can be read directly from the calibrated scale l! and vernier I08.

To prepare the device for another test, the brake 62 is released by depressing the button 19 wedging end I3 of rod 12 between brake bands 61 and 68 spreading them apart and releasing the clamping action. Depressing button 19 also raised lever 14, looking the same in notch 80 in lever 8| and pushes rod 9| up through tube 88 to reset the dog 95 in the shouldered portion '91 of rod 9|. Chain I is then pulled and the pressure of the 011 against this movement on top of piston 58 forces a plate I" in the seat H8 of said piston against spring 8 held in position by a washer ill, allowing the ail above piston 58 to fiow freely through holes ii'lin said piston 58 downwardly back into the lower portion of post II. The holes I22 are sealed by the plate ill by the action of the oil pressure in any downward movement of the tube 56 and piston 58. Thus, the-loading mechanism is returned to the zero position on scales Ill] and vernier I08. To hold it in this position, the tripping member 95 is lifted trippin the brake mechanism as explained above. Carriage 45 is then brought back to it's original position by I rotating hand grip '55.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket and movable relative thereto, a pointer pivotally mounted on said post, a clamp mounted on said pointer, the specimen to be tested bein mounted in said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, and fluid means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered in a controlled manner so as to increase the test load on said specimen.

2. In a device for testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket and movable relative thereto, a pointer pivotally mounted on said post, a clamp mounted on said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted in said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, and fluid means cooperating with til said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain.

3. In a device for testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried byand movable relative to said post, a clamp carried by said 30 bracket and movable relative thereto, a pointer pivotally mounted on said post, a clamp mounted on said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted in said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a

second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to'be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of down said tube and said chain, a brake carried by said specimen,

games? second post and adapted to cooperate with said cylindrical tube to halt the descent thereof and manually operated means for causing said brake to release said tube to permit said tube and said chain to be lowered.

4. In a device for testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said bracket relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket, manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket, a pointer pivotally mounted on said post, a clamp mounted on said pointer, .the specimen to be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said post for permitting the end of the chain supported by said post to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, and fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain.

5. In a device for testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said bracket relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket, manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket, a pointer pivotally mounted on said post, a clamp mounted on said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain, a brake carried by said second post and adapted to cooperate with said cylindrical tube to halt the descent thereof and manually operated means for causing said brake to release said tube to permit said tube and said chain to be lowered.

6. In a device for testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said bracket relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket. manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket, 8. knife-edge pivot fixed in said post, a pointer pivotally mounted on said knife-edge pivot, counterweights carried on one arm of said pointer, and a clamp mounted on the other arm of said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain. and fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain.

7. In a device of testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said bracket relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket, manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket, a knife-edge pivot fixed in said post, a pointer pivotally mounted on said knife-edge pivot, counterweights carried on one arm of said pointer, and a clamp mounted on the other arm of said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applyin a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain, a brake carried by said second post and adapted to cooperate with said cylindrical tube to halt the descent thereof and manually operated means for causing said brake to release said tube to permit said tube and said chain to be lowered.

8. In a device for testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said bracket relative to said post. a clamp carried by said bracket, manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket, a knife-edge pivot fixed in said post, a pointer pivotally mounted on said knife-edge pivot, means for moving said pointer from saidpivot and returning the same thereto, counterweights carried on one arm of said pointer, and a clamp mounted on the other arm of said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain. fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain, a brake carried by said second post and adapted to cooperate with said cylindrical tube to halt the descent thereof and manually operated means for causing said brake to release said tube to permit said tube and said chain to be lowered.

9. In a device for testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said clamp carried by said bracket, manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket,,a knife-edge pivot fixed in said post. a

pointer pivotally mounted on said knife-edge pivot, manually operated eccentric means for moving said pointer from said pivot and returning the same thereto, counterweights carried on one arm of said on the other arm pointer, and a clamp mounted or said pointer, the specimen to bracket relative tosaid post. a

be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in sa d second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain, a brake carried by said second post and adapted to cooperate with said cylindrical tube to halt the descent thereof and manually operated means for causing said brake to release said tube to permit said tube and said chain to be lowered.

10. In a device of testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said bracket relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket, manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket, a knife-edge pivot fixed in said post, a pointer pivotally mounted on said knife-edge pivot, counterweights carried on one arm of said pointer, and a clamp mounted on the other arm of said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain, a brake carried by said second post and adapted to cooperate with said cylindrical tubeto halt the descent thereof, manually operated means for causing said brake to release said tube to permit said tube and said chain to be lowered, and means operable upon the breaking of the specimen for automatically causing said brake to operate to stop the descent of said tube.

11. In a device of testing filamentary materials. a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said bracket relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket, manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket, a

knife-edge pivot fixed in said post, a pointer pivotally mounted on said knife-edge pivot, counterweights carried on one arm of said pointer, and a clamp mounted on the other arm of said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen,

said latter means comprising a cylindrical tubemovable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain, a brake carried by said second post and adapted to cooperate with said cylindrical tube to halt the descent thereof, manually operated means for causing said brake to release said tube to permit said tube and said chain to be lowered, and means operable upon the breaking of the specimen for automatically causing said brake to operate to stop the descent of said tube, said means comprising a tripping mechanism adapted to be tripped by the clockwise movement of said pointer.

- 12. In a device of testing filamentary materials, a post, a bracket carried by and movable relative to said post, manually operated means for moving said bracket relative to said post, a clamp carried by said bracket, manually operated means for moving said clamp relative to said bracket, a knife-edge pivot fixed in said post, a pointer pivotally mounted on said knife-edge pivot, counterweights carried on one arm of said pointer, and a clamp mounted on the other arm of said pointer, the specimen to be tested being mounted between said clamps, a chain having one end attached to said pointer for applying a test load on the specimen held in said clamps, a second post for supporting the other end of said chain, means mounted in said second post for permitting the end of the chain supported thereby to be lowered so as to increase the test load on said specimen, said latter means comprising a cylindrical tube movable relative to said second post and having means thereon for supporting said chain, fluid means cooperating with said tube for controlling the rate of the descent of said tube and said chain, a brake carried by said second post and adapted to cooperate with said cylindrical tube to halt the descent thereof. manually operated means, including a rod adapted to be inserted in said brake, for causing said brake to release said tube to permit said tube and said chain to be lowered, and means operable upon the breaking of the specimen for automatically causing the withdrawal of said rod from said brake to cause said brake to grip said tube and to stop the descent thereof, said latter means comprising a tripping lever adapted to be tripped by the clockwise movement of said pointer and means operatively connecting said tripping lever to said rod.

DAVID TAYLOR. ERNEST ROBERT WARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are or record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS m Number Name Date 919,140 Duncan Apr. 20, 1909 993,700 McKnight May 30, 1911 1,009,309 Brierclifle Nov. 14, 1911 1,512,491 Bcott Oct. 21, 1924 2,445,683 MacGeorge July 20, 1948 roman PATENTS Number Country Date 257,684 Great Britain Apr. 31, 192'! 

